I like Ball, and have three. The biggest problem Ball has is management and ownership as opposed to product quality. I especially enjoy the TMT, mechanical thermostat complication.
Ball needs new ownership because the current ownership allows the company to be run by a management team that I would call out as bad for the following reasons:
The catalog is bloated. Compared to actual sales a more disciplined, focused catalog makes more sense. Trying to offer too many variations of similar products contributes to production mismatch to customer demand. This leads to problem number 2.
Because of production/sales mismatches, Ball watches are usually available on the grey market at massive discounts. This situation pulls down the perception of the brand as well as discouraging customers from paying MSRP. Lean. Production. Is. Needed. Lean isn’t new, and Ball really needs to consider changing operations along those lines, and current management and ownership isn’t capable of this change.
Catalog bloat continues as a problem through the continuous introduction of ‘Limited Edition’ watches. There are both too many, and they are too large in size. Example: the RoadMaster TMT I bought a couple of years ago is a LE of 1000. It is currently still available, with a two month wait according to the Ball web site. Clearly, 1000 was too many for actual sales if the goal is limited and therefore exclusive. The two month wait time points to production being inefficient compared to real sales in real time. And oh, I bought just one of four LE variants of this watch. Then, about a year ago, they added a SECOND LE of the exact same watch with the only change being swapped the aluminum bezel to ceramic. Four more LEs of 1000. The catalog is almost as bloated as this damn post! But I care about the brand and see a lot of potential. And, I’m kinda bored as I wait for my laundry to finish. Thank you, dear reader, for continuing on with me. My heart is warmed.
The mismanagement of production and subsequent flourishing of massive grey market availability at discount, undermines the few ADs that carry the brand. Also, in further mismanagement of the brand, the Ball web site carries ‘Online Exclusive’ watches, all framed as LEs, which are often more compelling than when is offered to the ADs to sell.
Finally, I do love the watches and think the brand has a lot of potential. But that potential isn’t possible with the current ownership and management. Really, if the Swatch Group could scoop up this brand at a reasonable price, I bet Ball could really grow through better leadership.
I like Ball, and have three. The biggest problem Ball has is management and ownership as opposed to product quality. I especially enjoy the TMT, mechanical thermostat complication.
Ball needs new ownership because the current ownership allows the company to be run by a management team that I would call out as bad for the following reasons:
The catalog is bloated. Compared to actual sales a more disciplined, focused catalog makes more sense. Trying to offer too many variations of similar products contributes to production mismatch to customer demand. This leads to problem number 2.
Because of production/sales mismatches, Ball watches are usually available on the grey market at massive discounts. This situation pulls down the perception of the brand as well as discouraging customers from paying MSRP. Lean. Production. Is. Needed. Lean isn’t new, and Ball really needs to consider changing operations along those lines, and current management and ownership isn’t capable of this change.
Catalog bloat continues as a problem through the continuous introduction of ‘Limited Edition’ watches. There are both too many, and they are too large in size. Example: the RoadMaster TMT I bought a couple of years ago is a LE of 1000. It is currently still available, with a two month wait according to the Ball web site. Clearly, 1000 was too many for actual sales if the goal is limited and therefore exclusive. The two month wait time points to production being inefficient compared to real sales in real time. And oh, I bought just one of four LE variants of this watch. Then, about a year ago, they added a SECOND LE of the exact same watch with the only change being swapped the aluminum bezel to ceramic. Four more LEs of 1000. The catalog is almost as bloated as this damn post! But I care about the brand and see a lot of potential. And, I’m kinda bored as I wait for my laundry to finish. Thank you, dear reader, for continuing on with me. My heart is warmed.
The mismanagement of production and subsequent flourishing of massive grey market availability at discount, undermines the few ADs that carry the brand. Also, in further mismanagement of the brand, the Ball web site carries ‘Online Exclusive’ watches, all framed as LEs, which are often more compelling than when is offered to the ADs to sell.
Finally, I do love the watches and think the brand has a lot of potential. But that potential isn’t possible with the current ownership and management. Really, if the Swatch Group could scoop up this brand at a reasonable price, I bet Ball could really grow through better leadership.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Looking at Point 2: I don't see why you would want a change in situation then, if you like the watches and can get them at a big discount that's a win, why would you want to pay MSRP?? Current watch prices across the board are out of control IMHO.
Looking at Point 2: I don't see why you would want a change in situation then, if you like the watches and can get them at a big discount that's a win, why would you want to pay MSRP?? Current watch prices across the board are out of control IMHO.
Every one loves a deal. The two times I bought a watch grey market, it was Ball watches (the black TrainMaster TMT, and a Railroader, not pictured). What I learned from buying grey market is that these guys aren’t ADs because they suck at customer service if there’s an issue. So, the first reason that I think the current situation is negative for both Ball and the customer is the lousy experience of buying from a grey market dealer.
The second reason I think this is a negative for both Ball and the customer is that what lands on the grey market is a roll of the dice. This will lead to customers buying a watch that is similar to the model they really wanted quite often as a substitute watch. You might get lucky . But as many here will attest, a substitute watch is often a disappointment. This in turn will inevitably lead to buyers regret, which will leave a negative impression of the brand as the remembered experience.
The third reason I think this is bad is more for Ball than the customer. But if I want the brand to succeed, I can’t ignore that watches dumped at 85% off to the grey market dealer is a financial loss that isn’t good over the long term. Any watch dumped at that loss shouldn’t have been made, was a mismatch to the market, could have been a watch that would have sold at a profit, and exposes the brand to image degradation.
I agree that watch prices have become more expensive. But, honestly, hasn’t everything? So the costs to the brands to acquire materials, pay labor and overhead, and advertise have gone up. It stands to reason product prices are effected.
I wish Ball would do a vintage-inspired watch which was really true to their railroad heritage in terms of design. Pocket watch on the wrist aesthetics. Ditto Hamilton - they deserve credit for recently issuing a pocket watch with railroad styling but don't have anything similar as a wristwatch.
I don’t know what it is about Ball. I really want to like them but just don’t. They make a day date GMT…. that’s my dream travel watch… it’s not even that expensive but I can’t bring myself to buy one. I just don’t like the look of anything Ball makes.
They cling to butterfly clasps that are just difficult to get a decent fit with. Have been some movement issues the last few years that were a real problem.
Have owned five, don't own any now and likely won't buy another.
I like the designs of many Ball watches, but I do wish that they offered options with superluminova in lieu of tritium. I don't like strapping radiation sources to my body.
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I like Ball, and have three. The biggest problem Ball has is management and ownership as opposed to product quality. I especially enjoy the TMT, mechanical thermostat complication.
Ball needs new ownership because the current ownership allows the company to be run by a management team that I would call out as bad for the following reasons:
The catalog is bloated. Compared to actual sales a more disciplined, focused catalog makes more sense. Trying to offer too many variations of similar products contributes to production mismatch to customer demand. This leads to problem number 2.
Because of production/sales mismatches, Ball watches are usually available on the grey market at massive discounts. This situation pulls down the perception of the brand as well as discouraging customers from paying MSRP. Lean. Production. Is. Needed. Lean isn’t new, and Ball really needs to consider changing operations along those lines, and current management and ownership isn’t capable of this change.
Catalog bloat continues as a problem through the continuous introduction of ‘Limited Edition’ watches. There are both too many, and they are too large in size. Example: the RoadMaster TMT I bought a couple of years ago is a LE of 1000. It is currently still available, with a two month wait according to the Ball web site. Clearly, 1000 was too many for actual sales if the goal is limited and therefore exclusive. The two month wait time points to production being inefficient compared to real sales in real time. And oh, I bought just one of four LE variants of this watch. Then, about a year ago, they added a SECOND LE of the exact same watch with the only change being swapped the aluminum bezel to ceramic. Four more LEs of 1000. The catalog is almost as bloated as this damn post! But I care about the brand and see a lot of potential. And, I’m kinda bored as I wait for my laundry to finish. Thank you, dear reader, for continuing on with me. My heart is warmed.
The mismanagement of production and subsequent flourishing of massive grey market availability at discount, undermines the few ADs that carry the brand. Also, in further mismanagement of the brand, the Ball web site carries ‘Online Exclusive’ watches, all framed as LEs, which are often more compelling than when is offered to the ADs to sell.
Finally, I do love the watches and think the brand has a lot of potential. But that potential isn’t possible with the current ownership and management. Really, if the Swatch Group could scoop up this brand at a reasonable price, I bet Ball could really grow through better leadership.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
The tritium tubes on the Engineer Marvelight are sub zero. The bracelet just turns me off personally.
I like Ball, and have three. The biggest problem Ball has is management and ownership as opposed to product quality. I especially enjoy the TMT, mechanical thermostat complication.
Ball needs new ownership because the current ownership allows the company to be run by a management team that I would call out as bad for the following reasons:
The catalog is bloated. Compared to actual sales a more disciplined, focused catalog makes more sense. Trying to offer too many variations of similar products contributes to production mismatch to customer demand. This leads to problem number 2.
Because of production/sales mismatches, Ball watches are usually available on the grey market at massive discounts. This situation pulls down the perception of the brand as well as discouraging customers from paying MSRP. Lean. Production. Is. Needed. Lean isn’t new, and Ball really needs to consider changing operations along those lines, and current management and ownership isn’t capable of this change.
Catalog bloat continues as a problem through the continuous introduction of ‘Limited Edition’ watches. There are both too many, and they are too large in size. Example: the RoadMaster TMT I bought a couple of years ago is a LE of 1000. It is currently still available, with a two month wait according to the Ball web site. Clearly, 1000 was too many for actual sales if the goal is limited and therefore exclusive. The two month wait time points to production being inefficient compared to real sales in real time. And oh, I bought just one of four LE variants of this watch. Then, about a year ago, they added a SECOND LE of the exact same watch with the only change being swapped the aluminum bezel to ceramic. Four more LEs of 1000. The catalog is almost as bloated as this damn post! But I care about the brand and see a lot of potential. And, I’m kinda bored as I wait for my laundry to finish. Thank you, dear reader, for continuing on with me. My heart is warmed.
The mismanagement of production and subsequent flourishing of massive grey market availability at discount, undermines the few ADs that carry the brand. Also, in further mismanagement of the brand, the Ball web site carries ‘Online Exclusive’ watches, all framed as LEs, which are often more compelling than when is offered to the ADs to sell.
Finally, I do love the watches and think the brand has a lot of potential. But that potential isn’t possible with the current ownership and management. Really, if the Swatch Group could scoop up this brand at a reasonable price, I bet Ball could really grow through better leadership.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Looking at Point 2: I don't see why you would want a change in situation then, if you like the watches and can get them at a big discount that's a win, why would you want to pay MSRP?? Current watch prices across the board are out of control IMHO.
Looking at Point 2: I don't see why you would want a change in situation then, if you like the watches and can get them at a big discount that's a win, why would you want to pay MSRP?? Current watch prices across the board are out of control IMHO.
Every one loves a deal. The two times I bought a watch grey market, it was Ball watches (the black TrainMaster TMT, and a Railroader, not pictured). What I learned from buying grey market is that these guys aren’t ADs because they suck at customer service if there’s an issue. So, the first reason that I think the current situation is negative for both Ball and the customer is the lousy experience of buying from a grey market dealer.
The second reason I think this is a negative for both Ball and the customer is that what lands on the grey market is a roll of the dice. This will lead to customers buying a watch that is similar to the model they really wanted quite often as a substitute watch. You might get lucky . But as many here will attest, a substitute watch is often a disappointment. This in turn will inevitably lead to buyers regret, which will leave a negative impression of the brand as the remembered experience.
The third reason I think this is bad is more for Ball than the customer. But if I want the brand to succeed, I can’t ignore that watches dumped at 85% off to the grey market dealer is a financial loss that isn’t good over the long term. Any watch dumped at that loss shouldn’t have been made, was a mismatch to the market, could have been a watch that would have sold at a profit, and exposes the brand to image degradation.
I agree that watch prices have become more expensive. But, honestly, hasn’t everything? So the costs to the brands to acquire materials, pay labor and overhead, and advertise have gone up. It stands to reason product prices are effected.
I wish Ball would do a vintage-inspired watch which was really true to their railroad heritage in terms of design. Pocket watch on the wrist aesthetics. Ditto Hamilton - they deserve credit for recently issuing a pocket watch with railroad styling but don't have anything similar as a wristwatch.
I don’t know what it is about Ball. I really want to like them but just don’t. They make a day date GMT…. that’s my dream travel watch… it’s not even that expensive but I can’t bring myself to buy one. I just don’t like the look of anything Ball makes.
Biggest problem with ball is that all my friends would roast me if I wore a watch brand named "ball"
They cling to butterfly clasps that are just difficult to get a decent fit with. Have been some movement issues the last few years that were a real problem.
Have owned five, don't own any now and likely won't buy another.
MSRP is ridiculously overinflated
I love my ball.
I love my ball.
You need to be very careful with that phrasing, lol!
I like the designs of many Ball watches, but I do wish that they offered options with superluminova in lieu of tritium. I don't like strapping radiation sources to my body.